Sunday, May 31, 2015

Universal Orlando Resort has announced a project of remarkable vision: to bring to life an entirely new water theme park experience. Called Volcano Bay at Universal Orlando Resort, it will join Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure and become the resort's third incredibly immersive park.

Universal's Volcano Bay will be a place for the entire family. It will be a whole new generation of experience that re-imagines what it means to be a water park.

Imagine a place that offers radically innovative, thrilling attractions, peaceful moments of relaxation and an inspired guest experience that will forever change the perception of water theme parks. It will be set in a highly themed, completely immersive environment inspired by postcard-perfect tropical islands. And it will be the kind of special place that only the Universal team – the same team that has changed the face of Universal Orlando Resort in recent years - can envision and create.

Universal's Volcano Bay will be located within Universal Orlando Resort, just south of the Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Work is already underway and more details will be released in the future.

Universal's Volcano Bay is the next in a series of boldly creative experiences that have opened and will continue to open at Universal Orlando. It began with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade in 2010 and quickly moved to Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Springfield, hometown to America's favorite animated family, The Simpsons, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, eight new venues at Universal CityWalk, the breathtaking Cabana Bay Beach Resort and more. It will include Skull Island: Reign of Kong and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort in 2016.

Moscow compiled a list of EU citizens banned from entering Russia in response to the European Union’s sanctions campaign, a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

The source confirmed reports in several foreign media that a list of European politicians, diplomats and military experts was sent to the embassies of EU member states.

"The answer to the demands of some European countries to explain why these persons were included in the list of those who are banned from entering Russia is simple — it was done in response to a sanctions campaign unleashed against Russia by some EU member states, led by Germany," the source told journalists.

Russia Retaliates to EU Sanctions With Blacklist of 89 OfficialsHe added that there is a similar list consisting of US citizens, but Washington did not ask to make it public.

According to media reports, the list comprises 89 EU citizens, 18 of which have Polish citizenship, while nine are from the United Kingdom. Sweden, Estonia, Germany as well as Lithuania, Latvia and Romania also have at least five of their nationals each mentioned in the list.

Earlier in the day, the EU Delegation to Russia's spokesman confirmed authenticity of the list.

The European Union and the United States have imposed sanctions against several sectors of the Russian economy and high-profile officials, including travelling bans, citing Moscow’s alleged involvement in the Ukrainian conflict.

The Russian government has consistently denied involvement in Ukraine’s internal affairs.

Travelers shouldn’t have to give up flying (or pay a fortune for it) just because airlines are making it harder to find cheap fares. Here’s how you can save on flights even with the setback:

1. Use a VPN. One way airlines prevent you from comparison shopping, according to André Elmoznino Laufer, spokesperson for SaferVPN, is by looking up your unique IP address in addition to storing cookies in your internet browser. By doing this, they can tie your searches to you. He recommends using a VPN together with your browser’s private mode to prevent airlines from tracking your searches.

“By doing this you can shop around, and even book from foreign booking sites to take advantage of cheaper pricing abroad. For example, I found tickets 26% cheaper in Brazil in my search,” he explains.

Google Flights’ Explore Map option screenshot

2. Check Fare calendars. Personally, my first stop for finding cheap flights is always Fly.com’s Fare Calendar, which lets me compare four months of travel to find the best times to fly. From there I find the best priced dates then check my preferred airline’s website (I earn miles withDelta) for the same dates and compare. I also always check Skyscanner, choosing “Everywhere” as my destination so I can see what places are cheapest to fly from my origin. Google Flightsalso has a handy Explore Map option that shows prices for different destinations all at once, and they offer a calendar view, as well.

3. Research with ITA Matrix. If you have a weird itinerary, want to double check for the lowest price, or are trying to re-qualify for elite status then Matrix-ITA Software — which allows you to search for every possible flight combination known to man — can help you find flight combinations that would never appear in Google or Kayak, according to Parag Raja, CEO ofTravelMore. He says:

“For example, if you needed an American Airlines flight in a specific fare bucket to qualify for some AA frequent flier promotion, ITA would be your friend because even AA.com doesn’t allow you to search by fare bucket.”

4. Peruse Hopper for trip analysis. Miles for Trips blogger Dmitriy Dudarenko recommends searching flights with Hopper, as the website and mobile app provide full trip reports including the best flight deals, cheapest times to go, information on demand stability and alternative routes.

“If you are flexible with dates on your next flight this website is number one. Price predictions and trends, interactive maps, an airline fees calculator, and e-mail and smartphone notification are just a few reasons to use this amazing tool.”

5. Predict airfare volatility. It’s definitely aggravating seeing a great fare go up before you book. Travel startup FLYR forecasts airfares, telling you, for example, “You should buy soon, because this fare may go up by as much as $50 in the next 7 days.” That’s a nice bit of information to have in your travel hacking arsenal.

6. Build in a long layover. If you’re flexible with your itinerary, new travel site Skypicker claims it can save you between 50% and 90% on flights, and our research shows that it can indeed save you a bundle of cash. The catch? Itineraries are often on lesser known airlines and require you to have long layovers — sometimes as much as a day — in cities that might be out of the way. This can be a good or bad thing, depending whether you want to spend a night in Oslo on your way to Berlin.

Saturday, May 30, 2015

1) Don't Shop on the Champs-Elysées

The Champs-Elysées may once have been the most beautiful avenue in the world, but its fortunes have risen and fallen many times over the years, and it's currently overrun with global chain stores, auto dealerships, and movie multiplexes. Aside from the über-glam Vuitton flagship, which draws label addicts in droves, you'll find yourself dodging throngs of teens as you trudge past McD's and Sephora, wondering what in God's name all the fuss is about. And whatever you do, don't succumb to hunger on this strip: The cafés prey on tourists, and a local wouldn't be caught dead in one.

Instead: Follow in the well-heeled footsteps of locals.

Die-hard fashionistas should head straight to the designer shops of the Rue des Francs-Bourgeois in the chic Marais neighborhood, while haute-couturistas should point their stilettos in the direction of the Avenue Montaigne, for the likes of Chanel, or the Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré, home of trendsetting concept shop Colette. For old-fashioned ambience, look to Paris's covered passages. Dating back to the 19th century, these were the city's first malls, and beneath their vaulted ceilings of glass and wrought iron, you'll find more unusual wares: French designers, but also antique book dealers, art galleries, quirky toy shops, and more. Galerie Vivienne, just north of the Palais Royal, in the second arrondissement, is the most elegant of the lot.

2) Don't Get Starstruck at Mealtimes

Home to 66 Michelin-starred restaurants, Paris is a foodie's paradise. But a lot of pomp and circumstance—not to mention sky-high prices—accompany most of these traditional fine-dining establishments. (The prix fixe dinner at three-star L'Arpège, for example, will set you back a staggering $480. And that's before wine!) Does the idea of half a dozen waiters hovering buzzardlike around your table sound appealing? Or how about spending as much on dinner as you did on your plane ticket? No, we didn't think so.

age fotostock Spain, S.L.

Instead: Have your dinner à la mode.

Recently, several Michelin-starred chefs have abandoned the rigid confines of haute-cuisine restaurants to open convivial bistros that serve up simpler (yet still outstanding) meals. And the locals are just crazy about them. Yves Camdeborde's pioneering Le Comptoir du Relais, in the sixth arrondissement, is so popular that it can be hard to get a table. But once you're sampling Camdeborde's famous foie gras terrine for a fraction of what you'd pay elsewhere (the weekday dinner prix fixe is about $68), you'll understand why the place is booked months in advance. If you can't get in at dinner, try arriving by 11:45 am for lunch (reservations are not accepted, so it's first come, first serve). Christian Constant's charming Café Constant, in the seventh, is another popular option that serves impeccably prepared favorites, such as roast chicken, for a mere $20. Still hell-bent on a Michelin-star meal? Try booking at lunchtime, when many restaurants offer excellent-value prix fixe menus.

3) Don't Spend All Day at the Louvre or Musée d'Orsay

The Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay are Paris's most celebrated museums, and yes, they do house some famous works of art. But don't for a second think that they're your only—or, indeed, even your best—options. The lines to get in can be harrowing in high season, the crowds are exhausting, and the sheer quantity of art on display is overwhelming. If the prospect of beating back the hordes seems like it will detract from the experience (and, really, how could it not?), don't despair.

Instead: Get to know Paris's lesser-known museums.

Many of Paris's smaller museums contain equally important and beautiful art—and are often more pleasant, since you won't be elbowed out of the way by a photo-snapping swarm. You'll find Monet's famous Nymphéas (water lily) murals in the Musée de l'Orangerie, at the far end of the Tuileries Gardens. The Musée Marmottan is home to the world's largest collection of Monets. And the Musée Rodin, housed in a luminous villa with a lovely garden, is one of the most romantic places in all of Paris. Not in the mood for an art lesson? There are plenty of museums in Paris that focus on lighter and frothier fare, including fashion, wine, and money. Once you've discovered the pleasures of these intimate galleries, you might be hard-pressed to bother with the Louvre at all.

Carin Olsson

4) Don't Commit a Fashion Faux Pas

For starters, don't ever, even in the sweltering dog days of summer, think about wearing a pair of shorts in Paris unless you really want to be treated like a hapless tourist. As the French would say, ça ne se fait pas(it simply isn't done). And while you're at it, leave those gleaming white running shoes at home, too. As a general rule, Parisians avoid dressing like they're going to climb Mount Everest, and while you're in their town, so should you. On the other end of the spectrum, don't overdo it just because you're headed to the world's fashion capital.

Instead: Take a crash course in French style.

Parisian style isn't really about dressing to the nines; the French are quite casual these days—they've just mastered the art of the clean, coordinated look. Here are a few tips to keep your attire simple, tidy, and thoughtfully assembled: Black is always a good bet (or gray, if you really want to go nuts); accessorize with a single bold scarf, hat, or jewel (but, please, not all three at once); and make sure things fit the way they should (no sagging or squeezing). Complete your outfit with a fitted jacket and the best shoes in your closet. The final effect should look utterly effortless.

5) Don't Get Around Town in a Cab

Taxis can be hard to come by and can't be flagged down on the street (you need to call ahead for one or find a taxi stand). Cabbing around town also leaves you vulnerable to Paris's famously snarled traffic: Careening to a halt on a narrow one-way street, then watching the meter tick ever upward while you're trapped behind a double-parked car, is a definite buzzkill.

Instead: Take to heart the French word flâner.

While flâner technically means "to stroll," it more generally suggests "to walk the city in order to experience it"—words to live by in the City of Light. The center of Paris is only a couple of miles wide, maps are ubiquitous, and the rewards for taking to the streets on foot include world-class window shopping, observing flirtatious exchanges taking place in sidewalk cafés, and walking off that extra croissant. Worried about dog droppings? Fear not, the city has cleaned up its act. When going longer distances, hop on the Métro. From any given spot in Paris, you're never more than 500 yards from the nearest station; it's cheaper than a cab and often faster, too. So there's really no excuse—unless you've stayed out late (the Métro closes at 2 am on Friday and Saturday nights and 1 am the rest of the week). We wish we could recommend Paris's inexpensive Vélib' bikes (the gray models you see lined up on the street), but the rental program is off-limits to most visitors since a smart chip–enabled credit card is required to access the system.

6) Don't Seek Out Bohemian Ambience on the Left Bank

Sartre and de Beauvoir may have loved Les Deux Magots on the Boulevard St. Germain, but these days, this onetime hangout of intellectuals has all the authenticity of Times Square. You're far more likely to find yourself cheek to jowl with your tourist brethren than eavesdropping on any famous philosophers. You may, however, find yourself delivering a tirade on the immorality of charging $16 for buttered toast and orange juice.

Instead: Find the "real" Paris on the Canal St. Martin

Bobo (short for bourgeois bohemian) hipsters have laid claim to the area around the Canal St. Martin, a once-derelict part of the tenth arrondissement that now buzzes with cafés and hip boutiques, particularly along the Rue Beaurepaire. Settle at a sidewalk table at Chez Prune, the see-and-be-seen ground zero for this trendy Right Bank 'hood (36 Rue Beaurepaire; 33-1-42-41-30-47), sip your café crème, eavesdrop on the locals, and enjoy the views of the picturesque canal—and bask in the smug knowledge that you've found a corner of real Paris.

7) Don't Waste Time at the Eiffel Tower

In 2009, 6.6 million people visited the Eiffel Tower and, like lemmings, embarked on the laborious task of reaching the top. After trudging through one labyrinthine line for tickets and re-queuing for the cattle car–like elevators, you'll start to lose faith in the whole endeavor. And just when you think the ordeal is over, there are the lines to get back to terra firma.

Instead: Enjoy dinner and a view.

An infinitely more civilized approach to the whole Eiffel Tower business is to book a table at Les Ombres, the rooftop restaurant of the Musée du Quai Branly. The restaurant's glass latticework ceiling (like a dragonfly's wing) makes the most of its tall neighbor by enabling diners to feast their eyes on the tower in its gorgeous entirety while dining on French classics such as foie gras, oysters, and grilled steak. The view is at its most magical at night, when the tower glows ethereally and bursts into manic sparkling every hour. At dinner, main courses start at $40, but there are excellent deals to be had at lunchtime ($34–$52 for two to three courses). Or you can just head to the adjoining salon de thé to toast your savvy tourist skills with an alfresco flute of champagne.

8) Don't Book the Cheapest Hotel

Finding a decent Paris hotel for a reasonable price can bring even the savviest travelers to the brink of despair. You might find a screaming deal at a big chain hotel and think you've got it made, but once you're sitting in a beige I-could-be-anywhere cube on the outskirts of town, you'll realize that you're missing out on the Parisian atmosphere in the city center.

Instead: Book a furnished apartment.

Furnished apartments can be found to suit absolutely every budget and taste. You'll be amazed at how much living space you get for your money—especially if you plan to stay for more than a couple of days—and you don't have to eat out for every meal. The real estate mantra "location, location, location" definitely applies. When in doubt, opt for an apartment in a single-digit arrondissement and check how close the nearest Métro station is. And if the price seems too good to be true, try to find out what they may be hiding. Do-it-yourself services abound (Airbnb, VRBO), but if you want to leave it to the experts, try a rental agency (Paris Perfect Guest Apartment Services and Haven in Paris are reputable options). Once you're in your private pied-à-terre, glass of wine in hand, listening to the sounds of the neighborhood through the open windows, you'll feel like you've truly arrived.

Courtesy Perfectly Paris

9) Don't Fill Up on Croissants

We all swoon over those flaky golden crescents. But it would be a big mistake to limit yourself to Paris's best-known pastries and miss out on deluxe confections that aren't as well known, or as easily accessible, across the pond.

Instead: Munch on macarons.

Unlike macaroons, the dense coconut cookies in the United States, French macarons consist of two meringue-like cookies bound together by a delicious ganache. A few patisseries, Ladurée in particular (pictured), have been carrying macarons for ages, but recently these have become the hottest sweet in town. Debate rages among Parisians over which are the city's best; to decide for yourself, sample rose atPierre Hermé, caramel with sea salt at Ladurée, and orange-ginger at Gérard Mulot.

Courtesy Misha Hettie and Amanda Gentis

10) Don't Buy Into Stereotypes

Yes, we've all heard plenty about Parisians' legendary rudeness: The waiters are surly, the salespeople unhelpful, and everyone else is snobby and standoffish. It's true that Parisians are more reserved than most Americans and less apt to break into wide, toothy grins every time they meet someone new. Theirs is not a culture of instant BFFs and "Hi, how can I help you today?" extroversion. But you won't be doing yourself any favors by assuming that the locals don't like you—and then being rude in return.

Instead: Be mindful of your manners.

Try to understand (and imitate) the local customs and you'll no doubt be amply rewarded for your efforts. Do learn a few French words and phrases. Even if it's just a crash course on the flight over, and your delivery is less than perfect, the fact that you're trying will win points. Salespeople in smaller boutiques greet customers and expect to be greeted in return: A simple "Bonjour, Madame" upon entering a shop will do wonders for your status there. And note that French people tend to talk softly—their voices never carry in the streets, on the Métro, or even when they're sitting at the next table. Keep your voice low, too, and some of your neighbors might even venture a smile.

About Me

I (Allen Barkus) am the publisher of the Travelore Report newsletter, published monthly in print since 1971, with an 80,000 monthly paid circulation. This blog has also become one of the influential travel blogs in the industry with almost 175,000 views monthly. Our focus is on upscale value-added travel and travel related products and services worldwide. Since our lead time to print is typically at least three months, this blog allows us to keep our worldwide press contacts, paid subscribers @$68/yearly and general public aware of our editorial focus. Only paid subscribers get all of our detailed Destination Reports.
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